Avoiding the Bat-Belt Syndrome?

sangfroid asks: "As my personal technology products have increased, I've started to look more and more like a Batman wannabe. I now carry an iPod, a PDA, a Cell Phone, a Leatherman and a GameBoy (for the subway, really -grin-). Cargo Pants are out because of work and I don't particularly want to carry a back-purse everywhere I go. Is there a solution that doesn't require me to give up all my technology? A PDA/Phone might help but the holy grail would be a HD-based PDA/Phone/Music Player. How do you deal with all these devices without looking like a gargoyle? Is the answer better technology or no technology?"

Comments

dork

[lubricated]

The answer is to stop trying to impress everyone.

Where does he get all those toys?

[cybermace5]

I think maybe they should go the other direction, and start actually making utility belts. Plus add a grappling hook to your PDA, shuriken to your cellphone, etc.

Seriously though, we're on the verge of the true multifunction device. You can get camera/MP3 players, camera phones, phone PDAs, camera PDAs, USB drive MP3 players, and so on. Eventually they will squeeze everything into one.

I actually didn't want my hard drive/wireless server/MP3 player/PDA to be my phone...much too bulky to hold up to your ear. People who use Treos look like idiots. However a light detachable wireless earpiece/mic boom would definitely be acceptable, your "tricorder" could stay on your belt or on the table and you don't have to hold a brick up to your ear.

But maybe still go with the grappling hook. How many times have you wished you could just drop a smoke bomb and airlift yourself out of an embarrassing situation? Unless you fell off halfway up or something.

Re:Where does he get all those toys?

[Paradise Pete]

He can put his phone on his desk and call me from the coach w/ voice dialing.

Maybe if you weren't such an elitist you would get up out of your first class seat and go back there and talk with him. And what's that desk doing on the plane anyway?

Re:Where does he get all those toys?

[tchdab1]

"People who use Treos look like idiots."

Please mod parent Troll, or mod me up to help me feel better for looking like an idiot.

Re:As long as it doesn't bulge my suit pocket

[orthogonal]

As long as it doesn't bulge my suit pocket

But don't you understand? That's why Slashdot geeks love owning PDAs, MP3 players, and other geek gadgets: for the first time in their lives, something bulges in their pants.

And with a PDA-cellphone, they can sit in a singles' bar and feel at home by IM'ing in a chat room as a beefier guy with all his hair.

Re:Dockers

[orthogonal]

I still surprise some of my coworkers when they see me pull my pda out of one of the thigh pockets.

Depending on your co-workers' expectations, I guess it could be a real surprise.

Re:my advice would be

[uradu]

Phft! That's the model without the propane soldering iron. Looz-R!

Utilikilt?

[Lord Bitman]

DO IT.

skirts maybe?

[Anonymous Coward]

Pants are out because of work

YOW! What do you do for a living!!!

Old School Geeks

[jazman_777]

Just replace them all with an all-purpose slide rule.

Avoiding the bat belt

[Rorschach1]

My personal strategy for avoiding the bat belt syndrome... just go with the Chewbacca-style bandolier. =]

Re:Belt pouch

[glenstar]

I've had more than one woman walk up and ask me about it

Um... yeah. I imagine the women go crazy over a guy with a modern day knockoff of Middle Ages gear on their belt...especially when it is filled with 3 cans of Coke.

Re:Luggage.

[gklinger]

No towel?

Bat Belt

[CGP314]

You look a lot less stupid for wearing a bat-belt if you have the whole batman costume to go with it.

Err...

Perhaps not.

Re:one word: manpurse

[Glonoinha]

HAH! Actually I knew a guy in college that where ever he went he carried something about the size of a smallish laptop case in black nylon. Muc smaller than a briefcase but larger than a Daytimer. Took it to class, to the mall, out walking around .. everywhere. And he never actually opened it to get/put anything - he just carried it.

One day I asked him about it, he opened it up and showed me : Chrome Desert Eagle - the biggest hand cannon I had ever seen. I had no clue all those years, but I'm glad I never gave him any shit about carrying a manpurse.

Re:Dockers

[sharkey]

I still surprise some of my coworkers when they see me pull my pda out of one of the thigh pockets.

Don't forget to say, "'Scuse me, while I whip this out!"

Re:My solution -- an ammo case.

[spiphy]

Speaking of ammo cases and crossing borders. I was attending school in Canada for a while and I would routinely take my computer home with me (to the US) on breaks. I carried all my cords, keyboard, mouse, etc. in a rocket ammo case. Not once did a border guard even look inside of it.